Indiana State Department of Health

From the information provided by USDA, the ground beef products were distributed nationwide to retail establishments including in the State of Indiana. Additional information is provided to help consumers identify the recalled products. Please conduct effectiveness checks in your jurisdiction. In addition, if any recalled product is found, please notify Dan Gala at this office at 317-233-7360.

CLASS I RECALLHEALTH RISK: HIGHFSIS-RC-040-2007

Congressional and Public AffairsAmanda Eamich (202) 720-9113

Editors Note: As part of the continuing investigation, we have learned that four frozen ground beef products subject to the recall highlighted below have establishment number 5712 instead of 9748 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the package. For these products, consumers should look on the back of the package for establishment 9748 printed in inkjet or on a sticker. No additional product is subject to recall.

Topps Meat Company, LLC, an Elizabeth, N.J., establishment, on Sept. 29 voluntarily expanded its Sept. 25 recall to include a total of approximately 21.7 million pounds of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The recall was expanded based on an additional positive product sample reported by the New York Health Department, reported illnesses and findings from a food safety assessment conducted by FSIS at the establishment.

As of Oct. 5, CDC reported that there are currently 32 illnesses under investigation in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. An investigation carried out by the New York Department of Health in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preceded the recall of Sept. 25.

Frozen products still in commerce with an unexpired sell-by date are subject to this recall expansion. The company applies a one-year sell-by date to their frozen products. For best quality, FSIS recommends consumers use any frozen ground beef products within three to four months of the stated sell-by date. It is important that consumers look for the recalled products and return them if found in their freezers.

The frozen ground beef products were produced on various dates between Sept. 25, 2006, and Sept. 25, 2007, and were distributed to food service institutions in the New York metropolitan area and to retail establishments nationwide.

The following products were included in the Sept. 29 expanded recall and bear the establishment number “Est. 5712” inside the USDA mark of inspection and “9748” on a sticker or inkjet printed on the back panel of the package as well as a sell-by date between “SEP 25 07” and “SEP 25 08.”

The products subject to the original and expanded recall bear the establishment number “Est. 9748” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a sell-by date between “SEP 25 07” and “SEP 25 08.” These products include:

Consumers, retails and distributors with questions about the recall should contact the company’s recall line at 888-734-0451. Media with questions should contact the company’s media representative at 917-648-3584.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.